Indian Army’s 515 Base Workshop Inks MoU With IndyASTRA To Boost AI-Enabled Drone Abilities
IndyASTRA will provide technical consultancy to 515 ABW for a comprehensive evaluation of drone technologies. Image courtesy: X.com/@adgpi
In a significant boost to indigenous defence technology, the Indian Army’s 515 Army Base Workshop (515 ABW) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IndyASTRA Technologies Private Limited to fast-track AI-enabled drone capabilities for land systems.
According to a statement issued by the Defence Public Relations Officer, the collaboration aims to drive technology infusion in drone manufacturing with a special focus on developing an AI-enabled Flight Control System (FCS) and a Standard Drone Operating Platform (SDOP).
Under the agreement, IndyASTRA will provide technical consultancy to 515 ABW for a comprehensive evaluation of drone technologies, including subsystem reviews, integration readiness, and compliance with Army standards.
The Army Base Workshop, in turn, will route need-based requests for manufacturing trials, validation, and certification support to IndyASTRA, with an emphasis on interoperability, safety, and adherence to standards.
The Defence PRO statement added that the MoU will strengthen indigenous capabilities, reduce dependence on imports for critical unmanned systems, and accelerate the fielding of AI-enabled drone solutions in Army operations.
The partnership reflects a broader effort within India’s defence ecosystem to promote collaborative innovation between military workshops and private industry, particularly in high-technology areas such as artificial intelligence, automation, and robotics.
By creating a replicable model for future programmes and related subsystems, the MoU is expected to serve as a benchmark for upcoming defence-industrial collaborations.
India has been increasingly focusing on integrating AI and autonomous technologies into its armed forces.
The partnership between 515 ABW and IndyASTRA aligns with the Ministry of Defence’s “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative to enhance self-reliance in unmanned aerial systems and leverage private-sector expertise for faster, more agile innovation in battlefield technologies.
